Creating opportunity through education
We’re breaking down the barriers to post-secondary education across Canada
Where do I start saving for education?
How do I start saving for education?
Making a plan for continuing your own, or your child’s, education after high school can feel overwhelming. And sometimes, getting started is the hardest part. But, some good news, you’re in the right place. Be proactive but flexible. Your planning can evolve, things can change and that’s okay. This process looks different for everyone. In the meantime, see the section below for four steps to get started!
Step 01: Build a budget
A budget is the best way to start tracking your expenses and plan out how you can save up enough for tuition and all those other living costs.
Ready to get started?
Step 02:Open an RESP and apply for CLB
A Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) is an account designed to save for your own, or a child’s, post-secondary education. RESPs unlock various government grants and the Canada Learning Bond (CLB), a $500-$2000 income-based grant to help pay for school.
Step 03: Apply for student loans
Student loans are money you can borrow from the government, or the bank, to help pay for school. Eventually you’ll need to pay this back but only after you’ve wrapped up your studies.
Step 04: Apply for scholarships and bursaries
As a student, you may be able to fully or partially fund your education through scholarships and bursaries. There are literally thousands available for students studying in Canada. Many require just a few clicks to apply!
What We Do
Unlocking funding
We’re helping modest-income students and families to apply for the Canada Learning Bond (CLB), a $500-$2,000 government grant to help save for future school.
Educating
We’re working on creating and sharing simple, helpful financial education supports through online resources, in-person events and tax filing support.
Giving back
We’re partnering with new and established community organizations to fund grassroots financial literacy and educational programming.
Unleashing potential
To help students with financial need pursue post-secondary, we’re creating a national bursary program to fund their studies.
What the community thinks
Luis HernandezCovenant House
“Wealthsimple Foundation has created a positive experience for our youth at Covenant House! The programming they delivered was tailored to help them learn about relevant topics like credit scores, government financial aid and scholarships that they are eligible for.
Youth expressed to me that they now feel like they have the knowledge and confidence to think about their own financial situation and take action. Attendees now know the basics of financial literacy and have more tools to support their long-term financial security.”
Esther Saehyun LeeNorth York Women’s Shelter
“Wealthsimple Foundation has been so collaborative, helpful, and keen to understand North York Women Shelter’s organizational values. Working with the foundation has been an absolute pleasure - they are so generous with their time and expertise. We’re excited to continue to partner to provide tax clinics and financial literacy classes to survivors of gender-based violence.”
Mobeen Lahani Emerging Youth Consulting
“Wealthsimple Foundation is working towards designing solutions and products specifically for youth by having youth at the centre. Through their partnership with Emerging Youth Consultancy (a youth-led advisory firm), they have been able to utilize youth feedback through their strategies and iterations of product design. They truly champion youth voice at a foundational level.”
Gina Theivendra Emerging Youth Consulting
"It's been amazing to watch and support WSF in creating their products through an inclusive, youth-centric design lens. Through Emerging Youth Consultancy's partnership with WSF, I saw firsthand how much folks at WSF care about empowering youth to share their perspectives in order to meaningfully impact product design. With youth voices and experiences at the centre of their work, WSF is making sure their solutions not only resonate with youth, but are led by them as well.
Ella Wang the Mina Project
“I joined Wealthsimple Foundation as an intern through their partner, The MINA Project. The MINA Project focuses on addressing the skills, opportunities, and network gaps by providing access to opportunities for BIPOC high school students. During my time at the Foundation, I had the opportunity to work on multiple projects and teams to explore my interests and test my abilities. I learned so much from everyone on the team, and I feel excited and prepared to start university!”
Our Partners
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